Noted: Milwaukee Tool has a presence on college campuses including Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Author: knutson4
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos backs exception for rape and incest if Wisconsin’s abortion ban goes into effect
Noted: Vos in 2005 was a sponsor of legislation that would have prevented the University of Wisconsin System from advertising, prescribing or dispensing emergency contraception. The Assembly passed it 49-41, but the state Senate never took it up and the measure died.
Outgoing UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank suggests ‘persistence and stubbornness’ for successor
On the cusp of leaving the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chancellor Rebecca Blank used a final news conference Wednesday to take somewhat of a victory lap, saying she is leaving the university on strong financial footing and in a much better place.
But she also took the opportunity to highlight “unfinished agenda” items, such as increasing diversity and students’ sense of belonging on campus.
Game on: A new book from Doug Moe reminds readers of how the UW used to treat women athletes and how they overcame it
A new book about a women’s sports pioneer at the University of Wisconsin offers an important and overlooked story of the school’s athletic department that adds crucial context for anyone whose idea of Badgers sports history is limited to Alan “The Horse” Ameche and “Badger” Bob Johnson.
Michael Gableman’s vendetta over Wisconsin’s 2020 election must end – before he wreaks havoc the next one
Co-authored by Barry C. Burden, a professor of political science and director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
‘We’re struggling to pay for it’: A student’s perspective on the rising cost of college
Quoted: Professor Nicholas Hillman is recognized in the acknowledgments of the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s report. He said the data is sobering, but does not mean the worst for Wisconsin students. He said it should, however, be a wake-up call to lawmakers.
“I do think it’s a chance for these issues to be prioritized, like how do we pay for college and how do we prioritize finances so people who want to go can go,” he said. “Reduce those barriers, at the least.”
Hillman said a primary reason for rising college tuition is because running a university is expensive. Those expenses range from paying faculty to maintaining costly facilities.
Hillman helped create UW-Madison’s Bucky’s Tuition Promise. The program began four years ago and covers tuition costs annually for Wisconsin-based students. Their household income must be $60,000, or less.
Report: Wisconsin Legislature maps have the worst partisan-bias of any court-drawn map in the nation
Noted: The new maps, drawn by the Wisconsin State Legislature, are considered the most partisan-biased, court-adopted maps in the nation. That’s according to a new analysis from the University of Wisconsin Law School. The maps heavily advantage Republican politicians, all but guaranteeing Republican-rule in the state Legislature, regardless of what most voters want.
The analysis looked at four metrics: partisan-bias, efficiency gap, mean-median difference and declination.
“On every one of these standard partisan fairness metrics, these new maps are the worst, court-adopted maps that we’ve seen anywhere in the country,” says Rob Yablon, an associate professor at the law school, who published the analysis.
UW-Madison researchers say second hunt risked wolves possibly becoming endangered or extinct in Wisconsin
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say a second wolf hunt last year would have risked Wisconsin’s wolf population dropping to undesirable levels that include the wolf possibly becoming endangered or extinct in Wisconsin.
Health experts optimistic that even if COVID cases rise, hospitalizations and deaths should remain under control
Quoted: The expansion of “test-to-treat” clinics is key, said Ajay Sethi, an associate professor of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Test-to-treat locations are federally-designated one-stop shops where patients to get tested for COVID-19 and, if medication is deemed appropriate, get a prescription filled right away. There are 16 test-to-treat locations in Wisconsin so far.
“When we can scale that up to a point where we can feel confident that, ‘Hey, I’ve got symptoms, let me pop into that CVS, get tested, it’s positive, pharmacist gives me Paxlovid,’ that’s the next chapter,” Sethi said. “I think it’s the distribution issues that are keeping this from being a page-turner.”
Weekend Roundup: UW-Madison announces next leader of Global Health Institute
The next director of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Global Health Institute has decades of experience studying viruses, including those that jump from animals to humans, and ways to prevent their spread.
Jorge Osorio is an expert in epidemiology, virology and vaccines and a professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine. He takes over his role in May, according to the news shared Tuesday by UW-Madison, and replaces Jonathan Patz, a professor and director of the institute since its founding in 2011.
Conservationists and a private buyer are both seeking a pristine slice of Lake Michigan land. What to know about the Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs
Noted: So far, the buyer has only said they are a resident of the state and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in a letter shared by Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Saukville. The buyer also shared in the letter their “very real appreciation for nature, the environment, and the need to protect it over time.”
Here are the best native plants to put in your yard in Milwaukee
Noted: Susan Carpenter, plant curator at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, suggested putting these plants in your yard to nourish native bees:
- Early season: Virginia bluebells, shooting star, wild lupine, wood betony, serviceberry, willow
- Midseason: white or cream false indigo, penstemon, Culver’s root, wild bergamot (superfood and immune builder), purple coneflower (superfood), leadplant (superfood), common milkweed, American basswood tree (“Do not skip that one. It’s huge, and they love it,” Carpenter said.)
- Late season: bottle gentian, showy goldenrod (superfood), New England aster (superfood), white turtlehead (immune builder)
New college graduates with degrees in supercomputing, artificial intelligence are in hot demand. ‘War for talent’ gives grads many options.
Noted: University of Wisconsin-Madison research has shown that the majority of bachelor’s degree holders in the state tend to remain here, and that Wisconsin has a relatively low rate of out-migration, also known as “brain drain.” But the number of college-educated workers coming into Wisconsin isn’t that high, according to the research, so the state suffers from a lack of “brain gain.”
The solutions won’t come easily. And there’s probably no “silver bullet” for the entire state, as every region is different, said Matt Kures, a community development specialist with UW-Madison Extension.
‘Around the Farm Table’ explores climate change fighting grain
Quoted: Featured in the episode is University of Wisconsin-Madison assistant professor of agronomy Valentin Picasso. Picasso’s research team works with Kernza to help farmers develop best practices for crop growing.
“Being able to work with a large team of people to develop a crop that can bring reconciliation between food production and the environment really makes me excited and gives me hope for humanity,” said Picasso.
‘He doesn’t understand medicine is a science’: Ron Johnson escalates ‘guerrilla war’ against medical establishment
Quoted: Patrick Remington, an emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, severely criticized Johnson and called his persistent questioning of medical science irresponsible.
“If he had a medical license these would be grounds for malpractice,” said Remington, a former epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “But since he’s not trained in medicine, he should stay in his lane and focus on things he knows about.”
State data: About 6,400 abortions were performed in Wisconsin in 2020
Quoted: Jenny Higgins, a professor and director of the Collaborative for Reproductive Equity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says it’s more difficult to get an abortion in Wisconsin than it is in many other states.
“We have gone from a supportive state to a hostile state in a relatively short period of time,” she said.
Are you muted? Not exactly, finds UW-Madison privacy researcher
An investigation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found when using video chat platforms, your microphone is still on when you’re muted.
Evers appoints three new members of UW System Board of Regents
Gov. Tony Evers appointed three new members to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Wednesday, replacing two former members of the board leadership who were appointed by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and were in charge of the system’s failed search for a new president in 2020.
This doctor teaches medical students how to care for underserved populations at this south side community health clinic
It’s a gray and rainy Tuesday morning, and Dr. Michelle Buelow is with her patient Johnny at the Parkway Clinic of the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.
Despite the weather, Johnny, whom Buelow has been taking care of since 2018, is all smiles.
It’s just one of the reasons Buelow, a family medicine physician at the clinic, loves her work.
She was recently awarded the Max Fox Preceptor Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her work. The award is given to a preceptor “whose effective service as a mentor and teacher has guided UW medical students,” according to a news release from the university.
PolitiFact Wisconsin abortion-related factchecks
Noted: There is disagreement about whether such old laws could immediately take effect or whether they would need to be re-enacted, said University of Wisconsin-Madison law and bioethics professor Alta Charo, because they have been rendered ineffective for decades.
USDA grant aims to address sustainability in Wis. farmers’ markets and equitable food access
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded UW-Madison Extension a $200,000 grant that will be used to study six different farmers’ markets in north central Wisconsin.
Engineering a sustainable future: Four UW-Madison students repair, improve solar heater at Farley Center
A 40-year-old technology has been given a facelift at the Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability thanks to the handiwork and ingenuity of four college students.
Noah Argus, Macauly Donohue, Callan Hanley and Noah Lawinger are all seniors in the University of Wisconsin-Madison mechanical engineering program.
Facing cancer and mortality, Mike Lovell and Mark Mone strengthen their bond, focus on making a difference
It started with a recurring pain in Mark Mone’s side, which at one point was so intense it brought him to tears.
After nearly three days of hoping it would subside, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee chancellor’s wife insisted he go to the emergency room. As he lay in a hospital bed, he tapped notes into his iPhone as doctors performed a nine-hour battery of tests.
Opinion: Ending access to legal abortion has potentially deadly health consequences for Wisconsin women
Co-authored by Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, a professor of gender and women’s studies and obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
Linebacker Jack Sanborn among six Wisconsin Badgers to land free-agent deals after NFL draft
Six players for the University of Wisconsin, as well as former UW quarterback Jack Coan, agreed to free-agent deals after the conclusion of the 2022 NFL draft.
Russell Wilson Feeling School Spirit With Badger Reunion
The Denver Broncos may not have a pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, but there’s been some school spirit swirling around the team in the days leading up to the draft.
Running back Melvin Gordon officially re-signed with Denver on April 27, but the Broncos announced their intentions earlier in the week on Twitter by posting this photo of Gordon and Russell Wilson posing together after a game between the Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks when Wilson was still with Seattle. The two have on different jerseys in the photos, but they’re both flashing ‘W’ signs with their hands, signifying the time when they wore the same jersey at the University of Wisconsin.
Political influence on state’s flagship university debated during forum
The outsized influence of state politics on the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other UW campuses was debated during a campus forum on Thursday, where topics ranged from state funding for the state’s flagship university to Republican legislation aimed at discouraging teaching of critical race theory.
Historian says history is repeating itself, observing Ukraine
University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Francine Hirsch studies Russia and the Soviet Union, yet even she didn’t know the war in Ukraine would be so arduous.
“It has been a completely brutal war of aggression with all kinds of war crimes and crimes against humanity. I don’t think anyone expected that,” Hirsch said.
Critical forecast tool upgraded just in time for 2022 Atlantic hurricane season
A crucial tool that meteorologists use to forecast hurricanes is being upgraded just in time for the start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.
The University of Wisconsin announced the significant upgrade to the Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) and says it will use full-resolution images from weather satellites, better identification of the storm eye location and the ability to analyze hurricanes occurring outside tropical regions.
ADT was developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS).
“The ADT itself is not a prediction tool, but it does help describe the current state of tropical cyclone intensity, which provides the critical starting point for both forecaster and model-based predictions of future track and intensity,” says senior scientist Christopher Velden, who leads the CIMSS Tropical Cyclone Group.
Children’s books need to watch their (skin) tone
Noted: Books written by historically underrepresented authors increased by 3% in 2020, to 26.8%, while books written about racially diverse characters increased by only 1% to 30%, according to Kathleen Horning, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center. This progress has been further threatened by right-wing efforts to banish the discussion of race from classrooms altogether.
Childhood trauma often heralds incarceration. Now, we’re giving the worst cases a fresh look.
Noted: In 2019, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office partnered with the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee — one of the oldest public-interest law firms in the nation — for a project called the Public Interest Justice Initiative. They reviewed the cases of 50 people sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed when they were children to determine eligibility for early release and parole.
The initiative was launched after the Remington Center at the University of Wisconsin Law School found that more than half the 128 inmates serving life sentences for juvenile offenses were from Milwaukee County. The idea is to see if adjustments should be made, said District Attorney John Chisholm.
A longevity expert says you can extend your life span if you eat more carbs and less protein and fast every 3 months
Noted: Diets high in plant-based carbs and fats and low in meat and processed food may be best for longevity, according to the researchers, Valter Longo, a professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and Rozalyn M. Anderson of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Will Elon’s Twitter Deal Die—And Why Doesn’t The Stock Price Match His $54.20 Offer?
Quoted: “The market sees a possible concern as to his mercurial nature,” says David P. Brown, a University of Wisconsin professor who studies securities markets. “Even if he is doing his due diligence.”
As pandemic changes become permanent, some rural communities are booming
Quoted: Steven Deller, who studies rural economies at the University of Wisconsin, says many smaller cities and towns have moved away from the traditional methods of marketing to outsiders.
“Rather than focus on promoting businesses they’re looking at making their communities a better place to live, to attract people,” he said.
Americans see Afghan and Ukrainian refugees very differently. Why?
Co-authored by Adeline Lo, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She researches factors that motivate or mitigate conflict between groups and designs statistical tools for prediction and measurement.
Reality check: Colorado’s new preschool program faces obstacles
Quoted: “The half-day format is a nightmare for at least a third of all the parents we surveyed,” said Beth Graue, director of the Center for Research on Early Childhood Education at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
UW-Madison chancellor finalists named
Five finalists have been named in the search for the next University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank, the second-longest serving leader of the state’s flagship university, will step down in at the end of May to become the president of Northwestern University in Illinois.
American families need to earn $35.80 an hour just to make ends meet. Few earn that.
Noted: An hourly wage of $35.80 equates to about $74,400 in annual income. The average hourly wage stood at $31.73 in March, or about $66,000 annually, according to the latest government data. That means many families are falling behind in their ability to afford the basics, said Marjory Givens, co-director at the County Health Rankings, which is a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Five academics, including one internal candidate, will vie to be the next chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Five academics have been named finalists for the role of University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor, the UW System announced Wednesday.
UW ag experts say spring planting dates still on track
Although April has been cold and wet, University of Wisconsin-Madison agronomists say farmers shouldn’t start stressing out just yet.
“Despite the fact that we are about two weeks behind where we were a year ago, we are still on track for maximum yields for corn and soybeans,” says Shawn Conley, UW Soybean and Small Grains Extension Specialist.
According to Joe Lauer, UW-Madison Agronomy Professor, “last year we were earlier than normal – in fact, it was one of the earliest planting seasons on record.”
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Michels is no political ‘outsider’
Quoted: “Michels’ entry mostly signals a sense of discontent among Republicans with frontrunner Rebecca Kleefisch,” says University of Wisconsin political scientist Barry Burden. “She is the leader for the nomination in terms of traditional indicators such as fundraising, visibility, and conservative credentials. In an earlier political era, her connections to Scott Walker and success as a statewide candidate would have made her a no-brainer for the nomination. Many in the GOP are now pining for someone who will challenge the party establishment and take on other familiar institutions.”
Incoming UW System president Rothman will retain seats on corporate boards that paid $145K
When Jay Rothman starts his new position as president of the University of Wisconsin System, he will continue private-sector activities as a board member of two publicly traded companies where his cash compensation totaled $145,500 in 2021 and stock awards totaled $205,826.
Iowa counties ranked in terms of health by University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
Newly released rankings on the health of people in each county in the United States has Black Hawk and Bremer counties on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The rankings, put together by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute using new data, are meant to help people “understand what influences how long and how well we live.”
‘A path forward’: Madison School District holds land acknowledgement ceremony with Ho-Chunk Nation
Noted: When Isa and Marena saw the University of Wisconsin-Madison issue a land acknowledgement in 2019, they got the idea to install plaques at each of their high schools.
Opinion: Cooperation between U.S. public and private sectors will be critical in the years ahead
Noted: Tana Johnson is a faculty member in the La Follette School of Public Affairs and the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Franklin Public Schools to choose from three finalists for its superintendent position
Noted: Golla is superintendent for the Menomonee Falls School District. Previously, he was the district’s director of curriculum and learning and principal of Menomonee Falls High School. Golla holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Marian University and is pursuing a doctorate through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the document said.
UW ranked one of Top 30 universities worldwide by CWUR
UW-Madison is one of the Top 30 universities on the planet, according to the Center for World University Rankings.
Chew on this: Birds have an inactive gene for teeth
Noted: A study from the University of Wisconsin tells us that birds genetically retain dental potential. But for the moment at least, in place of teeth is the bill, avian equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.
Is ‘Name, Image, Likeness’ working? Athletic director Chris McIntosh mostly encouraged by how athletes are benefiting
Chris McIntosh likely won’t ever forget July 1, 2021.
That was McIntosh’s first official day as Wisconsin’s athletic director.
McIntosh, 44 at the time, had accepted the challenge of replacing Barry Alvarez, his coach at UW and the man who went on to lead UW’s athletic department for nearly two decades.
That same day, college athletes for the first time were allowed to secure compensation for their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) without facing any NCAA penalties.
Staying safe in space: UW researchers work to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation
From Mars missions to moon colonies, the human species has some ambitious travel plans in the works — ones that stretch way beyond our planet.
“Space exploration is the big challenge of this century,” said Elena D’Onghia, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Beavers and wolves are key to biodiversity in northern Wisconsin, conservancy group leader says
Quoted: Lisa Naughton is a professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an expert in tropical biodiversity conservation who has also studied wolf recovery in the state.
“We have to work with private landowners. That inevitably involves some compromise, but it’s urgent,” she said. “We need to keep an eye on biodiversity beyond protected areas. We need to keep our eye on agricultural land use and industrial land use that may have cascading effects for biodiversity.
“And with effort, we can push back,” she continued. “We can turn things around for some species.”
Many of Wisconsin’s nursing students are hired months before they graduate as desperate need continues
Noted: At the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s school of nursing, Associate Deans of Academic Affairs Barbara Pinekenstein and Lisa Bratzke said several students graduating this year had already accepted job offers at the end of the fall semester.
Admissions applications are also starting to stack up. Though it may be too soon to tell if the pandemic has caused more people to be interested in nursing as a career, Rentmeester said 367 people applied for Bellin College’s undergraduate and graduate nursing programs for the upcoming fall, up from a usual of about 320 pre-pandemic.
UW Marching Band to hold first spring concert after COVID-19 cancellations
After making it through the 2020 football season without fans, Corey Pompey said the feeling of his marching band returning to a Camp Randall Stadium full of Badger fans for the first time in 2021 was indescribable.
“For a large chunk of the band, they (had) never marched in the stadium before,” said Pompey, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band. “They never had that crowd response.”
Exit interview: UW-Madison chancellor discusses faculty retention, politics and funding
Outgoing University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said after being in “deep trouble” in 2015, the university today is in “very strong shape” when it comes to attracting and retaining faculty.
An exit interview with Chancellor Rebecca Blank
Rebecca Blank has been the chancellor of UW Madison since 2013, steering the university through the pandemic, an imposed tuition freeze, and growing awareness of social justice issues. We have an exit interview with the chancellor as she leaves to become the president of Northwestern University.
Behind-the-scenes look at Great Lakes shipwrecks-focused video game
Noted: The game was produced by PBS Wisconsin Education, Wisconsin Sea Grant, and Field Day Learning Games — an educational game developer within the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Center for Education Research and Wisconsin educators. It complements the PBS Wisconsin Shipwrecks! documentary and virtual reality experience exploring wrecks on the bottom of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Steven Olikara unveils ‘agenda to make government work’
Noted: Olikara is a Brookfield native and University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate who gave up his job to run for U.S. Senate. He was the founder and chief executive of Millennial Action Project, a Washington-based nonprofit devoted to “post-partisan political cooperation.”
UW-Madison varsity band holding first spring concert since the start of the pandemic
The UW-Madison varsity band’s annual spring concert is back this week for the first time since 2019. It’s the first time without Mike Leckrone conducting the show, so we talk to new director Corey Pompey about taking his place and leading the band into the future.
Liquid brine clears Wisconsin highways faster, study says
The use of liquid brine is more effective at keeping highways safe during the winter months, a new report says.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Traffic Operations and Safety (TOPS) Lab looked at data from 143 storms occurring in 10 counties across Wisconsin. It compared brine-cleared routes to those nearby cleared with a traditional granular rock-salt method. The researchers found use of liquid brine in winter highway maintenance cleared Wisconsin highways faster, provided better friction on roadways, and reduced overall salt usage.
Staying safe in space: UW researchers work to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation
From Mars missions to moon colonies, the human species has some ambitious travel plans in the works — ones that stretch way beyond our planet.
“Space exploration is the big challenge of this century,” said Elena D’Onghia, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.